Hello boys and girls I'm just looking for thoughts. Last week my pump developed a bad rattle, which came and went. I assumed it was an air lock and thought nothing of it but over the last few days its got worse and more constant. I turned down the speed yesterday and in doing so I noticed that it had a bad case of the wobbles. So this would mean the impeller is unbalanced and hitting the sides of the pump. As far as I can tell its not failed and broken, so I was just wondering on your thoughts, as I really can't be bothered to drain the system and look nor can I afford to buy a new pump
I don't think you've much choice other than to dismantle the pump to inspect it. I've not heard of a piece breaking off an impeller but it could have happened. I can loan you a Phobya DC-12 400/EK DCP 4.0 pump.
My pumps were noisy only for a few days with air bubbles. After that the vibration fades. Sometimes can be very small bubbles... My system is bubble free now. Maybe your problem is a fault though?
Yeh, thats what I'm thinking. I may have to take you up on that offer I thought that, but I've turned it down to min speed and its only getting worse... Also, if it is the impeller, are these replaceable? As I've not seen any anywhere...
I think you're gonna have to drain system and open the pump up to inspect it. It's not under warranty? I had a quick look for impellers but could only see for Eheim.
Is it a DDC? I'm not 100% sure but I may have a spare impeller somewhere. I don't know if it's possible to buy spare impellers for Laing pumps, I've never been able to find them.
If there isn't cash to spare and the impeller is indeed broken you could break/cut the one opposite (if they're an even number of blades) to balance it.
Sounds like maybe the bearings are gone. It's unlikely that the blades are broken, it's a closed system - it would be a LOT noisier if a blade had come off and is interacting with the others.
I got it second hand, so no warranty. Alas, its a D5. Thanks though Could do that I suppose... I'm more concerned where the broken blade has gone. D5's use induction motors, so no 'bearings' as suck, but the impeller assembly does rest on a spindle, so maybe thats worn on one area, or inf act broken (it has a plastic ball tip that the impeller rests on)
The Laing D5 has no bearings in the pump chamber. The impeller is magnetically driven and balanced on a spindle. of course the motor does have bearings and they could have failed.
So, as an update, I finally replaced my pump with one supplied by Veryevil (cheers again buddy ) and is appears that the old one had worn where the impeller rests on the spindle, so it had sunk by 2-3mm and was lop sided, so is was grinding away the wall of the pump enclosure. Just something for people to be aware of
I was about to post that, I remember a few years back the bearing surface would wear down causing such headaches. What you should have done is turn up the speed to float the impeller a little more.